Cherie and Jean in front of the Shwemyetman Paya. It's the only Paya in the world where the Buddha wears a pair of gold glasses.

A townsman gave the Buddha his first pair of glasses in the Konbaung era.

Once a month the Buddha must have his glasses cleaned.

You have to make sure the Buddha can see his worshipers.

Do you the Buddha might ever get contacts?

A family at a local restaurant.

Beautiful Myanmar girl.

Cherie with local kids. *Photo by Jean Leitner.

Lunch time.

Another Myanmar beauty.

Kids.

The immortal frog.

Jean with a local family.

Expressive eyes.

Cherie blending in. *Photo by Jean Leitner.

Walking down the street.

Kids by our rental car. *Photo by Jean Leitner.

Driving down the street. *Photo by Jean Leitner.

It's wonderful that kids will always be kids.

Washing before praying.

Paying homage to the Buddha.

Admiring the view. *Photo by Jean Leitner.

Making an offering. *Photo by Jean Leitner.

Jean plays with some local children.

We rented a driver (Sein Lwin) with our rental car.

Monks lined up in a row.

Cherie and Lynda. *Photo by Jean Leitner.

Myanmar man with his baby.

The local market in Pyay.

The market is alive with vibrant color.

Cherie wanders around the market. *Photo by Jean Leitner.

The beggar.

The lime-seller.

Dried pineapple.

Jean is the tallest person in Pyay.

I'm sorry...you're too young. You Cantelope. (Can't elope.) *smile*

Ready for a bike ride? *Photo by Jean Leitner.

Storage. *Photo by Jean Leitner.

Have compassion. *Photo by Jean Leitner.

They definately qualify for car pool. *Photo by Jean Leitner.

Are you sure you can't fit one more in that truck?

A Burmese tire-swing. *Photo by Jean Leitner.

A monk on a motorcycle. *Photo by Jean Leitner.

Lynda and Cherie. *Photo by Jean Leitner.

Our cottage in Pyay.

Cherie and Lynda. *Photo by Jean Leitner.

Jean feeds the fish.

The sun sets on Pyay, Myanmar.

The fish are hungry.

That's a lot of mouths to feed.

That's a lot of mouths to feed.

Cherie and Lynda. *Photo by Jean Leitner.

Wild peacocks.

I think the peacocks want a ride.

Visiting the Shwesandaw Paya (Golden Hair Paya) at night.

A couple of the Buddha's hairs bring worshipers to the Shwesandaw Paya from all over the world. *Photo by Jean Leitner.

Cherie with the Sehtatgyi Paya (the 10-story Buddha) *Photo by Jean Leitner.

The huge Sehtatgyi Paya at night.

The reclining Buddha.

This is taller than the zedi at Shwedagon.

Jean, like the Buddha, was born on a Wednesday.

It's fun to make noise. Gong! *Photo by Jean Leitner.

Exploring at night. *Photo by Jean Leitner.

Young monks.

Walking down the street.

Tonight they'll be telling stories of the crazy American they met with a camera.

Myanmar girl.

Time for lunch.

Jean enjoys a cheroot with the owner.

New friends sharing a smoke.

The weaver.

The backpacker.

Cherie writes: Shwedaung, a town about 10-miles south of Pyay, is famous for having the only Buddha in the world with spectacles. The gold-plated lenses were given to Buddha by a townsman back in the Konbaung era. Now pilgrims with eye-ailments travel across the globe pay homage to the Buddha with glasses. By chance, Jean and I saw the Buddha during his eyeglass cleaning. Once a month the monks climb up a ladder with a cloth to make sure the Buddha has a clear view of his worshipers.

Myanmar is a country filled with every type of image of Buddha: gold Buddhas, tall Buddhas, reclining Buddhas. The only thing I haven’t seen is a Buddha with a beer! One of the most magnificent Buddhas was the Ten-Story Buddha or the Sehtatgyi Paya. The gold covered zedi glistened in the moonlight and turned even the most devout doubters into faithful believers.